Gotthard are in the final stages of the production of the new album 'Firebirth', which will be released on 1st June by Nuclear Blast/Warner Music. It is the eagerly-awaited first album with new singer Nic Maeder.

The album was produced in Yellow House Studios, owned by the band, in Lugano, Switzerland, by guitarist/songwriter Leo Leoni and Paul Lani, who has previously worked with Gotthard on earlier albums, inclunding 'G-spot' and 'Homerun'.

The hearts and souls of the most successful Swiss rock group are afire once more: the new songs in 'Firebirth' are stirring and earthy as the mountain, like early Gotthard once more.

Article continues below...

Leo Leoni: "We are delighted with the new album. Songwriting with Nic and Freddy was a real explosion of inspiration and new ideas! Regarding sound and production, we have returned to our roots and we deliberately produced it with a pure - and for Gotthard - typical sound. For us, 'Firebirth' is the comeback album with the rating: BACK TO BASIC!"

Marc Lynn: "Collaboration with Nic was unbelievable – it feels that we have known each other for ever and the euphoria in the band is now burning like a new fire. It is a true rebirth of the zest of 20 years ago, when the band took off 'to conquer the world'. Producing this album with the new line-up was a real birth of fir” – we are very proud of our new baby."

Maeder's voice has been familiar for quite a while. The first single, released at the end of 2011, with the title 'Remember It's Me', is still heard frequently on the radio. The free download via the Gotthard web page was accessed countless times and started a firestorm of enthusiasm and positive feedback.

Nic Maeder: "It was absolutely amazing to experience the positive feedback from the Gotthard fans and the media after the release of 'Remember It's Me'. Now I am looking forward to the reaction to our first album together. The chemistry in the band feels fantastic and we are very much looking forward to being onstage in a couple of weeks and rocking with the fans."

The confederates are not only here again, they are on fire and ready for the next big step.

The first trial by fire will be in Latin America – there will first of all be a warm-up tour in May before the band will take the lead in several well-known European festivals. The German live premiere will be on 14th July as co-headliner at the Bang Your Head festival in Balingen. A big headliner tour is already planned for the autumn round the halls of Europe.